Dr. Marie Boudef

There's some stories where they never hear from their donor family and recipients wonder, why, why am I not hearing?

And they'll continue to write letters.

And then other times there are wonderful letters of how they've actually corresponded.

They've met.

I have donor families and recipient families.

that have gone on vacation to Europe together.

I've had families actually build gardens and have picnics every year to commemorate the death of the donor and the life that they gave and saved.

There are so many stories like this.

I had one heart long donor and this story was really poignant.

The donor family met the recipient.

He had received the donor's heart and lung.

They found out they shared the same name.

They all actually had the same hobby.

And in addition, at the end of the night, it was so touching.

The mother asked of the donor, can I please say goodnight to my son?

And she put her hand on the recipient's chest and felt his heartbeat.

You hear these stories and they just move you so much.